Guide to Scuba Diving from Your Yacht
| ST. MARTIN - DIVE SITE # 1, 2 & 3 |
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DIVE SITE #1 - St. Martin (French
Side) ILE PINEL
Depth:
20ft - 36ft/6m - 11m
Yacht Anchorage:
Ile Pinel in Orient Bay is an
outstanding anchorage in settled weather.
Beautiful beaches, beach restaurants, very good
snorkeling, numerous water sports activities.
Dive Site:
South-east of
Pinel anchorage. Dinghy past the floating
platform and line of small white buoys which
demarcate the snorkeling area, and anchor over
sand in about 30ft (9m). Dive along the pretty
coral reef abundant with small reef fish. Ideal
for your first tune-up dive when the weather is
good.
Sea Conditions:
Not suitable in strong trade winds or in big
swells.
DIVE SITE #2 - St. Martin (French
Side) GREEN CAY
Depth:
16ft - 26ft/5m - 8m (This reef was damaged by
hurricane Luis in September 1995)
Yacht Anchorage:
Green Cay in Orient Bay is a good anchorage in
settled weather with no swell. It is situated
behind an uninhabited island with a beautiful
beach and excellent snorkeling. Close to the
Orient Bay nudist beach and numerous water
sports activities.
Dive Site:
On the west side of Green Cay, about 50 yards
(50m) north of the beach. There is a pretty
coral reef with many small reef fish. Dive
towards the north tip of Green Cay. Go by dinghy
or swim from you yacht. Ideal for your first
tune-up dive in good weather.
Sea Conditions:
Not suitable in very strong trade winds or big
swells, when anchorage becomes rolly.
DIVE SITE #3 - St. Martin (French
Side) TINTAMARRE Small Tugboat Wreck
Depth:
Tugboat wheel
house roof at 37ft (11m). Vessel lying on sand
at 50ft (15m).
Yacht Anchorage:
Off a beautiful beach on the west coast of
Tintamarre. It is a good anchorage in fair to
moderate weather but rolly in big swells,
especially when from the north. Good snorkeling
and beach restaurant.
Dive Site:
Go by dinghy around the rocky point north of the
beach and head NNE for about 200 yards (200m) to
a buoy which marks the site. If the Buoy is
missing (which sometimes happens), look for a
large oval patch of light turquoise water over
sand with a dark patch in the middle. This is
the wreck in 50ft (15m) of water. Looking back
you can still see yachts anchored off the beach.
The tugboat was sunk during 1989 to form an
artificial reef. It is sitting upright and is
teeming with reef fish and small barracuda
(southern sennet). Take a close look at the
great variety of corals that encrust the wreck,
with small sea fans (gorgania) on the windward
side and snow like soft corals around the wheel
house. Be sure to only enter the wreck in very
calm conditions and only if you have wreck
diving experience. Please do not damage the
corals and make sure that your dinghy anchor
line doesn't touch the wreck.
Sea Conditions:
This site is not suitable in very strong trade
winds or big swells, especially when from the
north.
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A guide to
SCUBA DIVING FROM YOUR YACHT
In the waters of St. Maarten / St. Martin
and the surrounding islands |
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Dive Where You Want When You Want!
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